Hi friends, welcome back to my Miami series! Ever since our trip to Newport last summer, I’ve been fascinated with the Gilded Age. When I saw Vizcaya was located close to our hotel I knew it would be the perfect excursion for me. This mansion was built in 1916 for businessman James Deering. His father, William Deering, initially invested in an agricultural machinery manufacturer before taking over the company and naming it Deering Harvester Company (unrelated to John Deere). The company was incredibly successful and enabled the family to be among the wealthiest in America at the time. In 1902, with the help of J.P. Morgan, Deering Harvester Company merged with McCormick Reaper Company to create International Harvester, the largest manufacturer of agricultural machinery in the country. James Deering’s health began to fail due to pernicious anemia, so his doctors advised him to move to Florida for the warmth and sun. He didn’t want to live in any old house, so he began dreaming up Vizcaya. There is not an exact figure on how much he spent to have this house built and decorated, some people estimate $20m in 1916, which would be about $595m in 2024. The entire 180 acre complex originally included the mansion, garden, and a village with eleven buildings.
In 1925, less than ten years after the opening of Vizcaya, Deering died from a heart attack while traveling by boat back from Europe. Deering never married or had children, so he left the estate to his half-brother’s daughters. They donated the mansion and fifty acres of land to Miami-Dade County about thirty years later. The mansion and gardens officially opened to the public in 1953 and now welcome over 300,000 guests annually. The museum is open every day except Tuesday and costs $25 to visit. I bought my ticket at the entrance, but you can also buy them online. I recommend downloading the Vizcaya app with a free audio guide ahead of time and bringing some headphones.
Vizcaya was inspired by Italian villas and incorporates elements of Italy throughout. The interior boasts 45,000 square feet, several floors, and 54 rooms. The garden is equally as impressive and I’ll be sharing that in the next post. Vizcaya was built in two years (1914-1916) and designed by F. Burrall Hoffman with decorations done by Paul Chalfin. It’s estimated that over 1,000 people were employed throughout the construction of the home and gardens, roughly 10% of the population of Miami at the time.
The mansion tour begins in this loggia, and it was originally completely open as well as the courtyard behind it. A statue of Bacchus, the Roman god of hospitality and wine, greets visitors. It is from Ancient Rome, but the arms and legs were added in the 1700s.
To the right are some staff rooms where as many as 59 people were employed during the winter. This room was for cutting and arranging flowers from the garden.
The Serving Pantry was modern for its time complete with a refrigerator, warming drawers, and an electric dumbwaiter leading to the kitchen upstairs.
The Courtyard ceiling was added much later to protect the mansion from hurricanes and the summer heat. The house had electricity, but air conditioning wasn’t invented yet, so the openness helped provide a breeze and keep the home cool.
The Library was where James would host his business meetings at his desk that was originally a Parisian shop counter.
The Reception Room was designed in the Rococco style. The walls were originally a silk fabric, but they didn’t hold up in the humid environment.
James Deering had one of the first phone systems in Miami. It was advanced for the time because it could make calls directly without going through an operator. He also had a central vacuum system, burglar alarm, elevator, and an electric master clock system.
The Living Room features a massive limestone fireplace imported from France. The fireplace dates back to the 1600s, but the top piece was added by Deering.
In 1987 Vicayza hosted Pope John Paul the Second and President Reagan and they sat in the throne like chairs during their meeting. The organ is a self-playing organ and the pipes are hidden behind the painting that was turned into doors.
The Loggia at the back of the house also served as an entrance for those coming by boat.
Rounding out the main floor is the Music Room, rarely used formal Dining Room, and Enclosed Loggia.
Heading upstairs there are 24 bedrooms including 14 for staff. These are a few of the guest rooms.
This was James’ Sitting Room where he did most of his work. The other desk was for his secretary. This room was part of his suite and connected to his bedroom and bathroom further down the hall. 
The elevator was essential for Mr. Deering because his pernicious anemia made him weak. There was a separate elevator for the staff.
The Breakfast Room was where Mr. Deering liked to eat most of his meals. The walls are covered with paintings from Italy done in the 1750s and a hidden player piano provided music for the room.
The last room on the tour is the kitchen. Many people think he put the kitchen upstairs because he didn’t want the smell of food wafting through the rooms downstairs. To meet his culinary needs, Deering employed two French Chefs, one for meals and one for pastries. Sounds like the life!
Hope you enjoyed a look inside Vizcaya, stay tuned for the garden and finale of my Miami series.